Christmas Eve on December 22nd

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Some families celebrate Christmas on the eve of December 24th and others on the morning of the 25th. Recently I discovered that my family had the whole world beat as we often celebrated Christmas on the eve of December 22nd. 

Recently as I was organizing and labeling some old photos I'd digitized (before the persons and dates of the events were lost forever to the ether of time) and I came across what at first I thought was just an incorrect date on photos that were obviously of Christmas eve. On the back of many of these photos was the year and the date December 22nd. How odd I thought, and then I remembered my Dad was a December baby and his birthday was on the 22nd. Having two celebratory events so close together often made it easier to just observe them both on the same day (or evening as it were here).

I'm sure my Dad endured a lifetime of getting screwed on both birthday and Christmas gifts as I'll bet no one bought him double the gifts to correctly celebrate both occasions. Who knows though as all I ever remember Dad getting for gifts were clothes from my mom and sister and golf related stuff from his friends. I always got him the gag gifts that usually had some reference to flatulence that he proudly would display on his bookshelf in the basement.

This will be the 25th Christmas I've not spent with my Dad as he passed away in 1996 but I fondly remember the fun times my sister and I had tearing into our presents on the eve of his birthday and our early Christmas. I love you dad and mom (she passed away in 2016) and miss you both, especially during this time of year. If you still have your mom and dad to enjoy during this time of year, go and give them a special hug and let them know you love them. 

God bless you all and as I remember my earthly Dad's birthday Christmas this year, take a moment to remember our Father God's birthday Christmas as well and welcome Jesus into your hearts and homes.

Merry Christmas everyone!

From Prison to Promise

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Orphans are children without mothers or fathers who live with foster (temporary) parents or in actual orphanages. The lives of these children are ordered by rules and regulations established by the social services system. Many within this structured process feel like they are living in a prison.

Galatians 3:22 & 24 (ESV) says “But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.”

This scripture outlines that all of us are prisoners under sin and that the law was our guardian. Everything changes when Christ arrives and redeems us from the law. 

Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV) proclaims, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”

Often foster families will adopt the foster children under their care and make them legal members of their family. Everything changes for the child when the legal requirements of the law are fulfilled and they go from orphan to son or daughter. 

The same happens for us sinners when we receive the promise of Jesus through faith. The role of the guardian (the law) is fulfilled in Christ as we enter into a new way of relating to the Father. We are now sons and daughters of the King and heirs to the blessings of all eternity. 

Prayer:  Lord, we are utterly lost without You, We are prisoners of sin and orphaned from our Father. Through faith we receive the promised gift of eternal life purchased for us by Jesus Christ. Thank you for redeeming us and adopting us into the family of God. We love you and pray you would help us to live in this new life of freedom. In Jesus name, Amen.

VOID Not!

 Listen to this Sermon - Galatians 2:21

Berkshire Hathaway Check

• (Oracle of Omaha) Warren Buffet a financial superhero.

• 6th richest person worth $99.6 billion

• Owns 6%  of Coca-Cola Company with 400 million shares

• Collected bottle caps, sold most popular sodas door to door

• I’ll come back to the check amount...

Easter is Super Bowl Sunday for Christians 

• When NFL starts it’s anyone’s season

• Except for the Cleveland Browns. 

• Might as well be from Nazareth.

John 1:45-46 (ESV) 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Nathan answered and said, “See I told you, he’s even wearing a Cleveland Browns jersey!” (added for effect).

• Super Bowl Sunday like Easter - someone is going to triumph. 

• The day everything changed! 

• Dividing line between the Before and the After. 

• For early Jews 

• Before - atonement (sacrifice lamb & blood)

• After salvation through faith - finished work of Christ’s death/resurrection

• For Us 

• Before - unaware of sin & need for redemption

• After - Holy Spirit’s work of salvation (our easter morning)

What if early Jews remained in the Before?

• Continue following the Law

• Raise a lamb to sacrifice

• Insane! Treats Christ’s death as non-event

Galatians 2:21 (CEB) I don’t ignore the grace of God, because if we become righteous through the Law, then Christ died for no purpose.

What if we remained in the Before?

Galatians 2:21 (CJB) I do not reject God’s gracious gift; for if the way in which one attains righteousness is through legalism, then the Messiah’s death was pointless.

1. Following Legalism 

• Strictly following rites & rituals of religion. 

• I’ll earn my way to heaven

Galatians 5:1-3 (ESV) For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision (a former requirement of the law), Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. (Score 100, be perfect).

James 2:10 (ESV) For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point is guilty of all of it. 

• If keeping score, you must score a 100 and be perfect or you fail. 

• Dedication & attendance is fine as an outflow of our connection to Christ or it’s worthless!

2. Being ruled by Guilt & Shame

• We cannot accept we are forgiven.

• Live under shadow of shame

• Maybe in fear of sins we will commit

• Set up safeguards (find an accountability partner)

• Avoid areas of vulnerability (where you may be tempted)

3. Disregard Christ’s death by comparing ourselves to others

• We’re not as bad as some and probably better than most. 

• I’ll get into heaven (like God grades on a curve)

• Getting into heaven is not like surviving a bear attack by being the fastest one in the group. 

Romans 3:23 (ESV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

4. We remain in the Before by ignoring our need for salvation. 

William Booth (founder of the Salvation Army) said the dangers confronting Christians today are: 

Religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, Forgiveness without repentance, Politics without God, Heaven without Hell

• We live in a world with no absolutes

• Taught to be independent & self-reliant

• I’m fine just as I am

Revelation 3:15-17 (ESV) I know your works (not your heart): you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV) We are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;

• Question: was your salvation experience genuine?

• Do you still seek repentance?

• Are you still utterly dependent upon Christ?

In 2010, Bill Gates & Warren Buffet set a challenge to give 50% of their wealth to charity.

This year I decided to stop playing the lottery

• Before few bucks a week

• “If I don’t play, I can’t win.”

• God told me “putting your hope in this leaves me no place to bless you”

My check is $10,000,000.00. 

• Could significantly change my life. 

• Pay off my mortgage 

• Set aside enough money to retire now. 

However, if I choose to live in the before…

• Be like writing word VOID across this check

• Making it worth nothing.

Galatians 2:21 (ASV) I do not make void the grace of God: for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nought (nothing).

When the significance of Easter ceases…

• We void the grace of God and

• Christ’s death & resurrection of no value.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (ESV) 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

We live in the After by embracing the ministry of reconciliation

• Consider those we deem the most unworthy

• Those that rub us wrong may be God’s salvation targets

• You have to pray just to be around them, pray them into the kingdom

[Prayer]: Lord help us not to remain in the Before where we retain our useless practices of works, living under guilt & shame, comparing ourselves to others or simply being self-reliant. Let us not make void your grace and render Christ’s death and resurrection meaningless. Instead may we continue to be impacted more and more each day by the power of Christ’s life in us. Help us embrace Your ministry of reconciliation and be open to whomever you would bring to us. Amen.